Find out how popular the first name Ozzie has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ozzie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ozzie is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 90% of people named Ozzie being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 135 male babies and 53 female babies born with the name Ozzie.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 53 baby girls were named Ozzie in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ozzie

The name Ozzie is derived from the Old English name Oswald, which means "divine power" or "ruling power." It is a diminutive form of the name Oswald, originating from the combination of the Old English elements "os" meaning "god" and "weald" meaning "rule."

The name Oswald has its roots in Anglo-Saxon England and was particularly popular during the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the Venerable Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," where he mentions King Oswald of Northumbria, who reigned from 634 to 642 AD.

In the 9th century, the name Oswald gained further prominence with the veneration of Saint Oswald, the King of Northumbria, who was renowned for his devotion to Christianity and his efforts to spread the faith in the region. His relics were revered, and several churches were dedicated to him throughout England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Oswald remained popular among the nobility and aristocracy of England. One notable figure was Oswald, the Earl of Northumbria, who lived in the late 11th century and played a significant role in the conflicts between the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons.

As the name Oswald evolved over time, the diminutive form Ozzie emerged as a shorter and more informal variant. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ozzie can be found in the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical records and documents.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ozzie. One of the most famous was Ozzie Nelson, an American actor, and television producer who lived from 1906 to 1975. He starred in the popular television series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" with his family, which ran from 1952 to 1966.

Another well-known Ozzie was Ozzie Smith, an American baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1982 to 1996. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the sport.

In the realm of music, Ozzie Osbourne, better known as Ozzy Osbourne, is a legendary British singer and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was born in 1948 and has had a influential career spanning over five decades.

Ozzie Newington, born in 1931, was an American actor and comedian best known for his role as the lovable handyman, Rollo, in the sitcom "Three's Company" during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Lastly, Ozzie Guillen, born in 1964, is a former Major League Baseball player and manager who managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011, leading them to a World Series championship in 2005.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ozzie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ozzie, please contact us.

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